News & Analysis

"It's really the major area of sales growth these days," says John McEleney, President of McEleney Chevrolet Toyota in Clinton, Iowa. "Crossovers have a lot more appeal as people move away from minivans."

Automakers are integrating all manner of new technology into their vehicles, and while it's safe to say people don’t generally buy a car just for its cool technological features, you’d never know it by Detroit's marketing efforts.

Natural-gas powered vehicles have taken a backseat to hybrids and electric ones, but proponents say they are a natural fit with America's energy supply. What's now a novelty could become a viable alternative with the right infrastructure and government incentives in place.

The past couple of years have been very tough ones for the US auto industry, but this isn't a new situation for many automakers. Take a look at some of the milestones in the auto industry since the 1970s.